Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Business Projects

The American judicial system Essays

The American judicial system Essays The American judicial system Paper The American judicial system Paper The American judicial system, in theory, is supposed to be the great leveler among different groups; racial, gender, ethnic and class. However, there have been a number of cases in which the judicial system has fallen far short of what its design and function was meant to do under our Constitution. The Scottsboro Case and the hell that the judicial system put nine black boys, some as young as twelve, serves as an impediment to the belief that our judicial system is impartial. Even at the time of the trials, the all white Alabamian jury could feel that at least some of the boys were innocent. In the trial of one of the defendants, despite being found guilty of raping a white woman was not giving the death penalty. Up to that time, it would be the first time that such a lenient sentence would be given on such an offense. The trial showed the divisions within the community and the courthouse in which the trial was taking place as well as the country as a whole.To an alarming degree, the larger division that this trial highlighted was the differences in the feelings towards race which the country possessed. This does not hold true for the more than 130 million people living in America by 1931; saying that all Northerners were free from bigotry and all southerners were drowning themselves in it. However, the division that was present within the country was never shown so dark, then in their respective treatment of this trial and of the presumed guilt of these defendants. It would take decades until the Scottsboro boys and their own personal hell would be over. Some would be scarred, both mentally and physically, for the rest of their lives. What is equally as tragic, is that for African Americans, the thoughts of the Scottsboro Trial and the mishandling of justice, would only increase their suspicion towards America’s judicial system, and their increasing belief that in America, an African American would not, could not, be afforded a f air trial.It is discouraging to read of the details of the trial and what transpired in the days, weeks and years that the trial took place and the reactions to it. The troubles began on March 25, 1931 in which a number of both black and white teenage boys got into a fight while riding in a box car.[1] During the years of the Depression, this practice of free transportation was becoming more and more popular as the country went deeper and deeper into the Depression. There was a rumor of a government job in Memphis. During the trip, the white and black teenage boys got into a fight and the white boys were overpowered and thrown off of the train. The white boys told the authorities and a wire was sent to Paint Rock, Alabama and when the train stopped, the black boys were arrested. They were taken, bound together and then sent back to the jail in Scottsboro, Alabama. There were two young women on the train as well. Victoria Price and Rudy Bates, seventeen and twenty one years of age, w ere the ones who first levied these charges of rape against the boys.[2] When asked what their business was on the train, in order to mask the possibility of being charged under   the Mann Act which made it illegal to conduct immoral practices across state lines ( it was believed that the two were prostitutes) Victoria Price said that the African American boys on the train had raped her. This spread across the town like wild fire and by the end of that night, there were a several hundred men who were standing outside of the jail in which the boys were held and were looking to lynch the boys. The situation became so violent that Alabama’s governor B.M Miller ordered the National Guard to Scottsboro in order to avoid any attempt at a lynching.[3] The trial would soon begin.As the trial began, it became obvious, if it had not been done so already, the prevailing ideology of the Scottsboro pears as well as the belief of those, not only in the town but also the entire South. The re would be exceptions to this rule, but at least within the state of Alabama, it had been assumed that these boys, all of the boys, had been guilty of the crime of rape. In the days before the trial began, one local newspaper’s headline read: â€Å"All Negros Positively Identified While Nine Black Friends Committed Revolting Crime.†[4] Also, the defense for the boys was dubious at best. The parents of the defendants could afford to scrape together, only sixty dollars and with that money, obtained a real estate attorney named Stephen Roddy as well as Milo Moody, a seventy one year old lawyer who had not tried a case in years. The NAACP was reluctant to get involved in the case during the immediate days after the news hit the wire that these boys would be charged with rape. They would later get involved but not until the ACLU and the Communist Party took the lead in the defense of the boys. Attempts had been made to retain famed attorney Clarence Darrow for the trial bu t the powers that be, had waited too long and for better or worse, the American Communist Party had hired their own attorneys to defend the boys.This move was like adding salt to an open wound. â€Å"Hatred for Communists and the ACLU in Alabama, was only bested by the prevailing status quo’s hatred towards African Americans, especially regarding the crime of rape.†[5] It seemed that the Northern based ACLU and the Communist Party did not fully understand the prevailing ideology among the clear majority of southerners concerning their feelings for the party and its cause. It is unlikely that Clarence Darrow would have been able to obtain acquittals for the nine Scottsboro Boys, had he had the opportunity to be in the position for the defense. However, their fate was sealed when the Communist Party and the ACLU took any part in the trial. This does not speak to the quality of the defense that the above mentioned would have been able to provide for the boys, but rather, how they were regarded by the South. â€Å"The Communist Party was regarded as only slightly better than the perceived rapists that they were defending.†[6]   This would lead to a speedy trial and an even speedier guilty verdict.These attacks were obvious and certainly not subtle. In the closing arguments, Prosecutor Knight asked the jury: â€Å"whether or not justice in this case is going to be bought and sold with Jew money?†[7] The defense attorney seemed to agree and did not even offer a closing statement. The local papers described the trial as: â€Å"Almost perfect and a guilty verdict is to be assumed.†[8] The jury came back from deliberations and on the day of April 8, 1933, gives their answer as they deliberated for less than an hour and came back with nine guilty verdicts; eight were given the death penalty and twelve year old Roy Wright, was given a life sentence in prison. It was later said of the jury by the ACLU: â€Å"If you ever saw those crea tures, those bigots whose mouth are slits in their faces, whose eyes popped out at you like frogs, whose chins dripped tobacco juice, bewhiskered and filthy, you would not ask how they could do it.†[9]   More trials would continue and it would be many years until the boys, who had by then, become men, and were acquitted.The differences before, during and after the trial, concerning the beliefs of the South and the North was complete and absolute. There were exceptions of course but, by and large, the South, and especially, Alabama where the trial took place, did not look upon outsiders nicely. The efforts of the NAACP, the ACLU and the Communist Party; three groups which were never taken seriously or respected in the South, their involvement in what many believed to be â€Å"a matter for only southerners to decide,†[10] only heightened the feelings of distrust and hatred for the motivations of these above mentioned groups.   Never mind the fact that the actions of t he jurors, the prosecution as well as the white community at large concerning the prosecution of these boys was dubious at best, criminal and immoral at worst, a misplacement of justice was never more apparent than in this case When interviewed, one long time member of the town of Scottsboro, said of the defendants: â€Å"We ought to string up these nig-rs right now. They raped those girls as sure as day. We can save the county a whole lot of trouble and expenses with only a 30 cent piece of six foot rope.†[11] These sorts of comments, and there was no shortage by the white establishment when asked their opinion concerning the guilt or innocence of these boys, came not only from their racist feelings towards African Americans and their feelings against the crime of murder but also against people and groups who were labeled as â€Å"outside agitators† in relation to their involvement in this trial. Any outside sources which were used to defend the boys and therefore, us urp the authority of the state of Alabama, in the eyes of the town’s people, would lead to a strict response.Also, the views of the South in relation to the trial, could not escape the prevailing beliefs concerning the issue of race. In the state of Alabama, being part of the Deep South still had lingering effects of the Civil War and the institution of slavery. There were still some people who were alive and residing in the South who had fought in the Civil War and many more who had been influenced and still wished to continue the environment of Jim Crow and its laws on segregation and the perceived inferiority of African Americans. This way of thinking affected one of the plaintiffs before the case even went to trial. Rudy Bates, the seventeen year old who had said that the Scottsboro boys had raped her, had grown up in a very poor part of town and with her father out of the picture, Rudy and her mother were forced to live in the African American section of town. They were the only white family on the block. Before taking up residence in the house that she and her mother were living in at the time of the alleged rape, it was told to her by her new landlord. â€Å"Nigg-rs lived here before you.   I smell them.   You can’t get rid of that nig-er smell†[12] This was what was reported by Miss Hollace Randall. She ended her account of this aspect of the living conditions of Miss Bates by concluding: â€Å"Miss Bates looked apologetic and murmured that she had scrubbed the place down with soap and water. The house looked clean and orderly to me. I smelled nothing but then I have only a northern nose.†[13] This helped to sum up the differences in opinions among the northern and southern opinions concerning the case.There were bigots in the North as well as the South but there were differences. The ACLU, the NAACP and the American Communist Party, were all involved in the defense of the Scottsboro Boys and all came from the North. Thi s is beyond a coincidence as the defense would be hard pressed to find anyone of a reputable reputation, coming to the defense of the boys in what was a rape case in which race was at the center of the issue. Either a case in involving race or rape would be a trial in which many good hearted men and women, believing in the innocence of the defendants, would not feel so compelled to speak up as to the injustices that were occurring. When the two are combined, it became like finding a needle in the haystack concerning the attempt to find anyone within the Southern community to come to the defense of the boys. This would have helped in the defense of the boys as perhaps a respectable citizen from among the South and was respected by his own peers, was courageous enough to speak up for the defense of the boys. This would have had an n much more helpful reaction from those members of the jury who was suspicious of all those who came from outside of the South and who â€Å"stuck their no se where it did not belong.†[14] These feelings helped to mask the true issue at hand: nine innocent boys were being accused by two notorious women of questionable moral code, with the absence of any real proof and the fact that two doctors testified to the fact that there was no sign of the ripping or tearing of the private parts of either women. These seemed to elude the prosecution as well as the jurors who many have believed, â€Å"decided the guilt of the boys before the trial even began†[15] This seems to be a common theme among most misuses of our judicial system.Many in the South believed that claims of Price and Bates, despite the fact that most within the community has passed judgment upon these women and their lower social status and seemingly immoral sexual relationships with married men. Even the judge in the second trial, Judge Horton, when interviewed by Miss Hollace Ransdall in her famed report on the Scottsboro Trial for the ACLU, reported that the judg e commented, when describing one of the witnesses for the plaintiff: Well, we all know what his family is. ‘Her mother for instance’†¦ and he broke off as it was too obvious for words what his mother was like. I asked if he meant that the family was feeble minded or of a low mentality. No, not that, he replied, but†¦. ‘Well we know that they are not much good.’ He would commit himself no further.†Ã‚  [16] This was not taken into consideration: the disreputable character of the prosecution’s chief witness, yet the moral accounts of these nine boys, none of whom had ever been seen by the prosecution before this trial began and therefore, really had no way of being able to back up their opinions of these boys; these opinions which Ms. Ransdall detailed in her accounts of the trial and what the townspeople said were their opinions of the defendants. â€Å"They said that all Negroes were brutes and had to be held down by stern repressive measures or the number of rapes on white women would be larger than it is.   Their point seemed to be that it was only by ruthless oppression of the Negro that any white woman was able to escape raping at Negro hands.   A Negro will always, in their opinion, rape a white woman if he gets the chance.   These nine Negroes were riding alone with two white girls on a freight car.   Therefore, there was no question that they raped them, or wanted to rape them, or were present while the other Negroes raped them all of which amounts to very much the same thing in southern eyes and calls for the immediate death of the Negroes regardless of these shades of difference.†[17]   As one southerner in Scottsboro put it, We white people just couldnt afford to let these Niggers get off because of the effect it would have on other Niggers. This is why the society hated these boys and wanted to see them dead. Scottsboro had been hit hard by the Depression and when economic hardships come, prevailing racial bigotry always seems to intensify into a maddening fever. This was the case here.The Scottsboro Boys never had a chance at a fair trial in 1930’s Alabama. The legacy of slavery, the loss of the Civil War and Jim Crow laws was still too fresh in the minds of Southerners to allow nine black boys to be given a fair trial, along with even the possibility of being acquitted.   The demands were so high and the stakes so elevated by the opinions of the status quo, that there was little chance that the boys would be acquitted. Any chance at an acquittal was decreased any further when the defendants of the boys, were Northerners: the NAACP and groups which flaunted their communist beliefs or who were associated with communists. This acted as a double edged sword against the fairness of a trial. It seemed as though everything was working against the boys: They were black and the defendants were white. The crime that they were accused of was rape. The boyâ€⠄¢s defense came from the North and were groups which the jurors had an equally amount of mistrust and disdain against. They were outsiders who were defending perceived rapists. The Scottsboro boys never had a chance.This seemed to be the prevailing opinion among the Northern press as well. The Chicago Tribune, in an editorial, stated: â€Å"It seems doubtful that the defendants in this case, within the backdrop of Southern racism and bigotry, will be given a fair trial†¦. An acquittal is not expected.†[18] The New York Times mirrored such sentiments by stating that: â€Å"There has never been a more blatant misuse of justice than in Scottsboro, Alabama this week. These boys were innocent and the town knows it.† There were bigots in the North as their probably is to this day. The difference is that in comparison to the South, the North was a haven for progressive thought in which African Americans were treated with much more respect than their counterparts in the South.   The Civil War had been fought over the institution of slavery and the North had won. The North did not institute slavery because there was no need for it; no market in which to forcibly employ African Americans to work. This speaks to the same lack of interest in keeping African Americans in the same role of subjugation in the North than what many in the South felt to be necessary. There is no way of knowing whether these boys, had the accusations occurred in the North and a famed trial lawyer like Clarence Darrow or any defense attorney that would have been received more warmly by the jurors than the reception that the South gave the Communist Party in the Scottsboro trial. Perhaps, not even in the enlightened North, would all nine boys have been acquitted. What does seem more of a likelihood, the case would not have riled such a misuse of justice as the mitigating factors of race and sex would not have been viewed to such a degree of horror as it was in the South and wi th the absence of â€Å"outside agitators,† another excuse for a guilty verdict would have been vacated from the trial.In a final summation of the trial and the ideology which at the time, placed these boys in what would seem like the electric chair, ACLU representative Miss Hollace Ransdall stated: â€Å"We pride ourselves in this country upon having a free and compulsory educational system.   Why then did these young Negroes, all under age, not know how to read and write?   Because the subjugating white race is not concerned to see that black children go to school.   It is not to their interest to educate the Negro.   They profit too much by having a race under their feet that will do the dirtiest, the hardest of their work.   Southern whites feel to their marrow-bone only one thing about the Negro, and they say it over and over.   Hundreds of thousands of them have been saying it for generations.   They will continue to say it as long as anyone will listen.à ‚   It is their only answer to the Negro problem.   It is their reply to the questions of the Scottsboro case the Nigger must be kept down.†Ã‚  [19] These ideas and words were all too common in 1930’s Alabama as well as across the entire South. Feelings of racial superiority rose to the top with redoubled vigor as millions in the South were fighting for their own economic survival and with African Americans looking for much of the same, thus becoming a competitor towards the few jobs that were available, it seemed even less likely that a feeling of calm and respect could reside between the two races. As it became all too familiar, an opportunity in which the white majority in the South, had the opportunity to assert their superiority over the African American community in any way possible, this was sought after with a blinding resolve. In the process, nine boys, regardless of their eventual acquittal, went through hell for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and in the opinion of the jury, being the wrong color as well.

Writing negative messages Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Writing negative messages - Assignment Example To that effect, the waiver will reduce the fee charge by two percent. In addition, the bank kindly advises you to consider regular contact with the personnel especially when you need to make transactions. It avoids cases of overdrawing when your account balance is insufficient and promotes significant transactions without running your account to zero balance. Moreover, the charges will be lower and considerable after you receive sufficient information on the best methods to make transactions through the account. Instead of using the branch for your cash withdrawals, make proper use of till points for withdrawals. The bank has tills located at major retailers such checkers, spar, and pick n pay. Using the till for withdrawal reduces any transactions when the bank account has insufficient balance. It also lowers withdrawal fees and charges. In your scenario, the bank will charge waiving fee since your transactions were at the branch, thereby, increasing charge fees. Kindly note that your objections not to charge weaving fee on the transactions only applies to one transaction and the other transactions will remain

Improving Performance Efficiency Among SMEs Via Accrual Accounting Essay

Improving Performance Efficiency Among SMEs Via Accrual Accounting Systems - Essay Example In direct relation to the aforementioned, accounting and organisational management scholars have determined that the right accounting software package can substantially contribute to organisational performance and the maximisation of efficiency and effectiveness (Hirst and Hopkins, 1998). In explaining the importance of selecting accounting software, Johnston (2003) highlights the concept of budgeting versus accounting. Line-based cash accounting software packages are only capable of measuring a firm's financial performance and position. Accrual based accounting packages, on the other hand, fulfil that function in addition to the more important budgetary one. Through the former, SME's may determine, not just their financial position, but are given access to invaluable data on the optimal division and distribution of organisational resources. Although, in this highly developed economy, there is hardly an SME which does not manage its accounts through the use of accounting software, few understand the imperatives of adopting an accrual-based accounting package as would aid in the adoption of a budgetary process which, in itself, will substantially contribute to efficient organisational performance and realisation of strategic objectives. Currently, there is an influx of accounting software pa... Currently, there is an influx of accounting software packages tailored to the needs of various customers. The greater majority of these accounting packages, as mentioned by Bresnahan et al. (1998), are based upon the traditional cash-based, line-accounting system due to the overriding perception that this particular accounting system is the easiest to use, on the one hand, and the most popular among SMEs, on the other. However, the market also provides a choice of accrual based accounting software packages, primarily used by the larger organisations (Bresnahan et al., 1998). These packages execute both accounting and budgetary functions. However, SMEs are often reluctant to adopt them, assuming that they are problematic to implement and difficult to use, on the one hand and that the size of their business concerns and activities does not necessitate the adopting of a budgetary process. Within the context of the above stated, the problem to be investigated is the exigencies of adopting an accrual-based accounting software package. In investigating this problem, the report will outline the strategic business value of doing so and outline a strategy for implementation. From a personal perspective, the transition to an accrual based accounting package will invaluably enhance an SME's capacity for growth and development insofar as it will provide it with the tools needed for the more strategic distribution and utilisation of organisational resources. Research Question (59 words) How can the adoption of an accrual accounting system positively contribute to an SME's operational efficiency and effectiveness Implicit in this question is the need to provide an answer which will measure the costs and benefits of adopting accrual based accounting packages, on the one hand,

Placement at a mental health rehabilitation centre

Placement at a mental health rehabilitation centre The purpose of this write up is to explore and analyse how learning theories informed knowledge development and competence in promoting health and psycho education in clinical settings. I will examine the principles underpinning the facilitation of learning and assessment. I will demonstrate my knowledge and understanding of the theoretical concepts in an episode in which I facilitated learning to clients while on placement at a Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre. Finally, I will use the reflective model by (Gibbs, 1988) to reflect on the strategies used within the episode and discuss the implications in relation to my future role as a nurse. The NMC (2008) stipulates that as nurses we must maintain our professional knowledge and competence regularly. You must keep knowledge and skills up to date throughout your working life and that you must take part in an appropriate learning and practice activities that will maintain and develop your competence and performance. In view of the aforementioned this essay is aimed at enhancing my knowledge and competence in facilitating learning through understanding of the underpinning concepts. I observed most residents having fast foods such as burgers, kebab, and chocolate as well as fuzzy drinks which are rich in saturated fatty and sugar for lunch regularly and they were also smoking a lot. I was really concerned because of my duty of care as a nurse (NMC, 2004) and due to findings from several researches for example (Bottomley and Mckeown, 2008 and Hallpike, 2008) which shows the risk of malnutrition was commonly associated with people with psychosis which predisposes them to host of physical health problems. I had a chat with my mentor of my intention to use the weekly communal meeting to carry out a teaching session to raise awareness and sensitise the residents on the effects of fatty foods and fuzzy drinks on their body chemistry and the need to improve and develop a healthier eating habits and life styles, considering the fact that most of them were on various antipsychotic medication which predisposes them to becoming obese. Timms (2008) said that a huge majority of people with mental health problems are most likely to have weight issue due to side effects of their antipsychotic medication. My mentor agreed to table it before the resident in the next meeting to gain their consent in compliance with NMC (2008). The residents consented to it and were quite interested because some them were really concerned about their weight and really wanted to do something about it. We agreed on a date for the teaching. The onus was now on me to facilitate the learning process that will empower the residents to take responsibility for their health and make a positive change. A vast majority of physical health problems are caused by people life styles and their failure to see the risk associated with their daily habits. Kiger (1995) defined health as state of balance between different facets of life suggesting that it is a dynamic concept which he termed movable. What this means is that our life styles can alter the balance resulting in an adverse effect on our health. As facilitators it is essential that we have a clear understanding of the different learning styles in order to tailor our teaching to meeting the varied approach of our learners. This is because learners are intrinsically different and preferred different ways of learning. Teaching is an act of imparting knowledge, a purposeful intervention aimed at promoting learning and causing learning to happen. Kemm and Close (1995) defined teaching is an act of assisting others to learn and putting it to use in their life. While Kiger (2004) defined teaching as a process of enabling people to learn through the dissemination of information and advice; it creates room for people to express their feeling, clarify their thought and acquired new skills. Learning is the acquisition of knowledge through education and experience. It is essentially important because it enable people to make informed choice about their own health. Roger (1996) defined learning as a kind of change often in knowledge but also in behaviour. Reece and Walker (2002) stated that learning brings about change and that teaching and learning proceeds pari passu and cannot be considered in isolation. I spent time engaging with the residents so as to build a therapeutic relationship based on trust whilst observing their behaviours as I gather information to facilitate the learning process. This was to enable me identify their preferred style of learning so as to increase ease of transmission of knowledge. There are a host of approaches available in health promotion. Ewles and Simlet (2003) identified five approaches which include medical, client-centred, behaviour, education and societal change. In his word all these approaches must be taken into cognition when undertaking health promotion to clients. Kolb (1984) developed the experimental learning theory (learning by doing) by this he suggested that learning is not fixed but formed from previous experiences. Kolb learning theory which is cyclical affirmed that people have different learning style and he identified four distinct learning styles as shown in figure 1 below includes concrete experience (having an experience ), reflective observation( taking time to reflective on their experience from different perspective), abstract conceptualization ( drawing their conclusions) and active experimentation ( putting theory into practice). For effective learning to happen Kolb said all this four must be taking into context when planning a teaching session. Honey and Mumfords learning cycle is slightly different from Kolb system. http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/styles/honey_mumford.html Figure 1 Honey and Mumfords variation on the Kolb system Honey and Mumford (2000) said that there four different types of learners which must be taken into consideration when planning a teaching session as shown in figure 1 above. These include the activists, like learning situation that presents them with new challenges, problem solving, and role play and uses the first opportunity to experiment; reflector like brainstorming and learning activity that gives room for observation, thinking and reflecting on they have learned; theorist like to research into fact before taking it onboard, they prefer a step by step approach and pragmatist like practical based learning and been given the opportunity to try out techniques and getting feedback in return. In view of fact that people have varied approach to learning considering the fact that its a group teaching. I intend to present my teaching to my mentor first to get feedback on whether I have considered all the four learners identified by both Kolb and Honey and Mumford. As nurses the education of our clients about their health is a vital aspect of our nursing process. It is important that we use an approach that encompasses congruence, empathy and respect in assisting our client (Roger, 1996) instead of coercing them to change their life style. Therefore it is imperative that we aware that teaching the client requires consent and that the client has the right and autonomy to refuse any intervention even when it can result to death provided they have the mental capacity to make informed decision (Mental Capacity Act, 2005 and NMC, 2008). DH (1996) states that the client must be provided with vital information about their health, so that they can make informed choice about the treatment options, life styles changes and behaviour. The subject was brought before the residents for them to make informed decision with regards to the teaching and they consented to because they wanted to do something about their weight. Kemm and Close (1995) wrote that there is high tendency for client to learn if teaching is directed to meeting their needs, interest and within their ability. Effective communication plays a vital role in facilitating learning. As nurses the way we communicate and the kind of rapport we build with our client plays an essential role in empowering or disempowering them (Brown, 1997). Good communication skills act as therapeutic tool in delivery a holistic and person-centred care (Burnard, 1992). Our role as facilitator should be to explore and support our client to build that intrinsic motivation to make a change in their life, strengthen their commitment to change and then develop a plan to fulfill that change (Miller and Rollnick 2002). The responsibility for change lies purely on the client however as facilitator we should use an approach that confront the client with the idea of need for change without been persuasive and argumentative rather we should create an environment that show a sense of genuinity, respect and empathic understanding through collaboration and working in partnership with the client. Based on my assessment of the residents needs and considering the fact that they were adult learners capable of self-directing their learning, I decided to use andragogical instead of the pedagogical teaching style so as to enhance collaboration and for it to have a positive impact in residents lives. Pedagogy is the art and science of teaching children, it is a teacher- centred education and the teacher decided what, how and when it will be learned while andragogy is the art and science of assisting adults to learn and it is learner-centred education. Andragogical approach help learning to take place because of the clients own effort or willingness and it helps learners to learn what they want to learn (Knowles, 1990). Over the years educational psychologist and educationalist have developed models and learning theories (Hincliff, 2004). These include the behaviourist, cognitive or humanistic. Three domain of learning exist; Cognitive, psychomotor and affective (Bloom, 1972). The way we learn is however dependent on some other factors even though these three domains are the dominant. Individuals personal values, beliefs and altitude are motivating factors for self-directed learners. I decided to use the humanistic approach in facilitating the awareness and sensitization of the need for them to improve their diet and life style In order to meet the residents learning needs. The humanist theory as explained by (Maslow, 1943) is concerned with individual fulfillment and self-actualisation. The influence of the environment on the residents and their relationship with others is explained by the socio-cognitive theory. Bandura (1977) stated that learning take place as a result of social interaction throu gh observation and mimicking others whom the learner look up to for example family , peers and health professionals. To facilitate learning; a conducive learning environment, learning material suited to the learners need and their literacy level must be considered (Quinn, 1995).In view of this, I gathered all the necessary resource taking into account the residents individual learning styles and planned the teaching in such a way that it is tailored to meeting their varied learning styles. Based on my engagement with the residents I identified that majority of them belong to the theorist, pragmatist and reflector learning styles from (Honey and Mumford, 1982). Prior to the start of the teaching session I made sure the environment was conducive for leaning, spacious, quite and with the right temperature. I introduced myself to the residents and my mentor and other member of staff present. I explained the rationale for the teaching session. I gave them handout I prepared for the session which contain literature and pictures, which were simple to understand and which they could keep with them and refer to later at their convenience and I also use video from YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp0nc4kY-tc to explain the potential side effects of fatty food and fuzzy drink on their heath and I highlighted the main topic, which is the makeup of the food they eat and its functions in the body and the calories recommended daily. I brought in several fatty foods like ground oil, butters in different make to explain to them the difference between the good product and the bad product. I explain to them that the one that contain high saturated fat and low unsaturated is not good because the body find it difficult to break down the saturated fatty into small unit which is used by body instead they are gradually deposited thereby raising their cholesterol level. The deposition of fat gradually blocks the artery wall which could lead to anterosclerosis, stroke and heart diseases while product rich in unsaturated fats and low saturated fats are better. I encouraged them to always check for this information on the food product whilst shopping. I asked them if they know what cholesterol means and if anyone has check out their cholesterol level. I then brought out some more products for them to point out which one was better to check if the understood the lectures and they did perfectly well in identifying the good and the bad product and I offered them praise f or a job well done. I then showed them they kind of food that is good for the body from you Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAFTcfaA-pcfeature=channel and what constitute a balance diet. The teaching session was an interactive one and as facilitator I suggested and encouraged them to adopt a healthier lifestyle by eating more fruit and vegetable instead of chocolate, drink more water instead of fuzzy drink and to cook their meal which was more nutritious and economical and to exercise by going to gym or taking a light work every day. I suggested that we could contribute one pound to cook for the weekly communal meeting and then see how it goes from there and the feedback was positive. I gave room for question and answer session. I thanked them for their collaboration and for making the teaching successful. Their willingness to learn was quite beneficial. I provided information on what make a balance diet and some activities aim at dealing with weight issues in the communal loung e. As nurses its imperative that we take time to reflect daily on our professional and clinical practice. Gibb et al (2005) stated that constant reflection allows learning to occur at every given opportunity and it improves practice. I felt competent though initially nervous teaching the residents on the need for healthy eating and life style change. Ewles and Simnett (2003) stated that health promotion is the process of empowering people to take proactive action over and improve their health. I was able to facilitated residents learning by building a rapport and through process I observed their learning styles and knowledge base which made it possible for me to tailor the teaching to their varied approach of learning. I believe the teaching session had a positive impact in enlightening the residents on the need for them to improve their diet and lifestyles change from the feedback I got at the end of the teaching. I use the humanistic approach clearly stating the rationale for the sess ion because I wanted them to have the knowledge so that they can take responsibility for their own health. The session was collaborative and interactive with the residents fully involved in the discussion and asking appropriate when seeking clarification. During the evaluation Amos felt that the learning outcome had been achieved and also said that the handouts and leaflets given during the teaching session were very useful and helpful. My mentor suggested that I could have done more and it would have been good, if I had used an overhead projector. But his feedback was encouraging. I had to rush towards the end of the session due to time factors. But I realised that as a student nurse, my professional development is still in progress and as my course develops I will become confident in dealing with this type of situation. My experience of teaching on this occasion will improve my professional practice. During the session I adopted a personal counselling approach based on the Beattie (1991) model, (cited in Ewles and Simnett 2003), which is a combination of the educational and client centred approach. According to Rogers (1983) people experience the world differently and know their own experiences better than anyone else. Amos ability to take responsibility for his actions helped to be more independent. In conclusion, I have been able to facilitate a teaching session by building a therapeutic relationship with Amos and through achieving effective communication. I found out from this experience that empowering clients does not mean that nurses should enforce decisions on clients but rather that; they should encourage and motivate them to achieve a desired result. I feel the experience was an interesting one. Looking back on the teaching skills demonstrated and the assessment of the clients need, I think the aim of the teaching was achieved. The feedback received from the learner and my mentor has given me an insight on how to improve in my teaching in future. I hope to use video clips and overhead projector in future teaching and to continue using the lecture learnt in taught module to enhance my skills and knowledge in my future role as registered mental health nurse.

Nanotechnology Essay examples -- Science Technology Essays

Nanotechnology Nanotechnology is the development of atoms in a certain object. Nanotechnology has become very popular in the past few years. It is a way to rebuild the systems of life. To make systems move faster than ever before. Nanometer is about 10 times the size of an atom. Each of these has a huge effect on a system. Still there are questions out there that keep people wondering how important nanotechnology is to us. Many wonder how will it affect them and if we should continue this research. I myself wondered about nanotechnology. After researching this topic I have learned new and interesting facts to help me understand the entire concept. Nanotechnology is defined as â€Å"the development and use of devices that have a size of only a few nanometers. Research has been carried out into very small components many of which depend on quantum effect and many involve movement of very small number of electrons in their action. Such devices would act faster than larger components. Considerable interest has been shown in the production of structures on a molecular level by suitable sequences of chemical reactions or lithographic techniques. It is also possible to manipulate individual atoms to surfaces using a variant of the atomic force microscope to make, for example, high density storage devices.† (Joseph Andersen’s Guide to Physics). In this definition we find that nanotechnology is very complex but as we continue to pursue this extraordinary idea, we find that it is very important to us in many ways. Nanotechnology is the development of devices that build our computer systems and aid in our everyday lives. T ake your families computer for example, the entire system of your computer is made up of millions upon millions of tin... ...ducts to make our lives that much easier and that much safer. Look around you and see if you can guess all that has been helped or bettered by nanotechnology. From your computer to your cell phone, all of these things are available to you because of nanotechnology. Tell me this, could you live without them? Bibliography Andersen, Joseph â€Å"Nanotechnology definition† 23 July, 2004 http://physics.about.com/cs/glossary/g/nanotechnology.htm Schmergel, Greg â€Å"Nanotechnology Now† 23 July, 2004 http://nanotech-now.com/ U.S. Department Of Health and Human Services â€Å"Cancer Nanotechnology† 23 July, 2004 http://otir.nci.nih.gov/brochure.pdf â€Å"What is Nanotechnology?† 23 July, 2004 http://www.nano.gov/html/facts/whatIsNano.html â€Å"What is Nanotechnology?† 23 July, 2004 http://www.lanl.gov/mst/nano/definition.html

Allure Cruise Line

Since the days of antiquity, Seas and Oceans have always fascinated the human being as the great wide open to explore for the unknowns. Many a miles have been sailed, many oceans have been crossed, and now at this hour humans are circling ocean for leisure tours using the most advanced and sophisticated water transport industry, the Cruise Liners. The history of this industry has three folds as Early, Jet and Modern Age. It started with the introduction of the Ocean Liners as humans plunged into the adventure of exploring new lands and further propelled by the foreign trade of the early time.Following the suite; in 1818 the Black Ball Line operating from New York became the first scheduled passenger service provider shipping company sailing from the United States to England. During I and II World War the cruise industry has done the task of transporting troops and displaced refugees too. Post war the industry recovered rapidly as the US government offered heavy subsidies in cruise sh ip building operations (Cruiseworking, 2009).In this Case Study of Allure Cruise Line (MS Allure of the Seas), the sister ship of the world's largest passenger ship, the Oasis of the Seas, the expansion plan of the â€Å"Project Genesis† will be addressed by the paper with study of dynamics, major players and the challenges of this industry in detailed subdivided structure (Asklander, M. (2008). Today the cruise liners are no more just passenger carriers or voyage ships, rather floating hotels of its own kinds; owned by various companies across the world. They are the off shore version of the hospitality management.To focus on the case, the major players of the North American Cruise Industry take the first 20 places in no time. But some of them are the flagship operators to be reckoned on. They are Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America, P&O, Cunard, and Norwegian Cruise Line (Pain, 2006). To look deep into the business specification of the players; their statistics of the profile reveals a comparative understanding of the expansion measure to â€Å"Allure†.To ponder on Allure’s own player, Royal Caribbean International is a Miami, Florida based brand owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. whose organisation type is Public. It also holds the subsidiaries of Azamara Cruises, founded by the Greek Chandris Group (Plowman, 2006). As on 2007, the company asset listed as Revenue: USD $6. 149 billion, Operating Income: USD $901. 3 million, Net Income: USD $603. 4 million. It has a fleet size of 21 ships, names ending with â€Å"of the sea†. Consisting of 6 different classes the total passenger volume is 69,736.The passenger to crew ratio of this liner company varies from 2:4 to 3:7. The organisation Headquarter is flagged at 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, Florida, USA (Reed Business Information, 2009). Among all the other players, Carnival Cruise Line (Carniv al Corporation & PLC) is the biggest of all, including 11 other cruise operators in it. It is a British-American-Panamanian corporation that includes other cruise brands like, Carnival Cruise Lines itself, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Seabourn Cruise Line in North America.P&O Cruises, Cunard Line and Ocean Village in the United Kingdom; AIDA Cruises in Germany; Costa Cruises in Italy and P&O Cruises Australia; in Australia. Combining all brands of the organisation it has a mighty fleet size of 88 ships, touching more than 1,60,000 passenger volume and as an expansion plan 18 more ships due to deliver by 2012. The total asset size as on 2007 are, Revenue: $ 13,033 million, Operating income: $ 2,725 million and Net income: $ 2,408.The organisation type is public dual listed company, listed to NYSE: CCL, LSE: CCL, NYSE: CUK with Headquarters flagged in Miami, USA and London, UK. Though Carnival Corporation and PCL are separate listed companies having separate list of stak eholders, but own all its operating companies jointly in the group (Carnival Corporation & PLC, 2006). The crew to passenger ratio of this organisation is 1:1 (EDGAR Online, Inc. , 2009). Among other players; Disney Cruise Line is an American cruise line company, property of The Walt Disney Company.Its Headquarter is flagged in Celebration, Florida that operates 2 ships reaching a combined passenger volume of 4800, with a passenger to crew ratio 1:9. To its existing fleet, company is adding 2 more ships, which are two decks taller than the existing ones; thus expanding the business by four folds (Ship Facts, 2009). This private organisation runs by President Tom McAlpin as part of the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts division is counting a Revenue: $ 35. 51 billion, Operating income: $ 7. 827 billion and Net income: $ 3.832 billion, as on 2007 (The Walt Disney Company, 2007). Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) with the daughter company NLC America, jointly owned by Star cruises and Apollo man agement has 50% of NLC. It is a private company flagged in Miami, Florida. The company is famous for its freestyle cruising concept with no fixed time for meal, sitting arrangement or any formal dress code. 1 Its fleet size is 11 with a passenger volume of 24,807. Under expansion plan one more ship is set to sail by 2010 (Ward, 2006).As per observation, Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Corporation and PCL and Norwegian Cruise Line are thre main major players, have unique operational strategies that make them different to one another. Royal Caribbean retains a very compact business with large ships but small fleet size. In contrary Carnival has a huge brand basket with medium ships and deeper penetration. And NLC has a moderate market and fleet with no exceptional expansion. It is hard for Caribbean to overtake Carnival, but the concept of mega size ships of the former is creating extra niche.These cruise ships follow the Shipboard Structure with following positions: Commandin g Officer – CO, Executive Officer – XO, Command Master Chief – CMC, Department Head – DH, Division Officer – DO, Leading Chief Petty Officer – LCPO/Leading Petty Officer – LPO, Work Center Supervisor, Damage Control Petty Officer – DCPO, Command Career Counselor – CCC, Ship’s 3-M Coordinator, Ombudsman, Financial Specialist, Drug and Alcohol Program Administrator – DAPA, Quality Assurance Coordinator, Medical Department, Safety Officer, Divisional Safety Petty Officer and Security Manager (King, 2009).According to maritime law cruise ship are to follow the laws like, Maritime Statutes, Treaties, and Conventions, Medical Issues on Cruise Ships, Passengers with Disabilities, Injuries, Accidents, and Physical and Sexual Assaults on Cruise Passengers, Cruise Ship Fires and Collisions, Vessel Safety, Illegal Dumping, & Unsanitary Conditions (Cruise Law, 2009). For the cruise liner industry law is same in all the water body. As the cruise ships have become floating hotel, as leisure activity the industry is booming with more expansion plans despite of the economic slowdown.The only hindrance is the political instability that creates tension in regions and the companies have to cancel the port of calls for passenger’s safety, which makes many active crews inactive in affected zones. For Allure it is a big step ahead to compete, if not in numbers, but in size. One more sea will join the â€Å"Amada†. Reference Asklander, M. (2008). â€Å"M/S Allure of the Seas (2010)†. Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from http://www. faktaomfartyg. se/allure_of_the_seas_2010. htm. Cruiseworking. (2009). The History Of The Cruise Line Industry.Retrieved February 23, 2009, from http://www. cruiseworking. com/history. shtml Carnival Corporation & PLC. (2006). Corporate Information. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from http://phx. corporate-ir. net/phoenix. zhtml? c=200767&p=irol-p rlanding Cruise Law. (2009). Links to Maritime & Cruise Line Related Sites. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from http://www. cruise-law. com/links. html EDGAR Online, Inc. (2009). Edgar Pro. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from http://sec. edgar-online. com/carnival-corp/8-k-current-report-filing/2006/11/07/Section12.aspx King, K. (2009). SHIPBOARD ORGANIZATION AND ADMIN FUNDAMENTALS. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from http://members. tripod. com/~Motomom/104ship Plowman, P. (2006). The Chandris Liners and Celebrity Cruises. Rosenberg Publishing. Pain, J. (2006). Royal Caribbean orders $1. 24B cruise ship. The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from http://www. boston. com/business/articles/2006/02/06/royal_caribbean_orders_large_cruise_ship_1139250670/ Reed Business Information (2009). Ships operated by Royal Caribbean International.Retrieved February 24, 2009, from http://www. search2cruise. com/cruise-operator-list-7043. html Ship Facts. (2009). Disney Cruise Line. Retrieved Feb ruary 24, 2009, from http://disneycruise. disney. go. com/dcl/en_US/onboard/about/listing? name=ShipFactsListingPage&bhcp=1 The Walt Disney Company. (2007). â€Å"The Walt Disney Company 2007 Annual Report†. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from http://amedia. disney. go. com/investorrelations/annual_reports/WDC-AR-2007. pdf Ward, D. (2006). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz